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WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Samford women's basketball team fell behind big early and could not catch up as the Bulldogs dropped a 51-40 decision at Wake Forest Sunday afternoon at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
 
"The most disappointing thing about this is how we started the game," Samford head coach Mike Morris said. "We have a pattern of not starting games well. In the second half, we did some good stuff and got some great looks. Even the shots we missed in the second half, I thought were good looks."
 
In the loss, Samford was led by Hannah Nichols with 11 points. Charity Brown tied a career high with 10 points. Ellen Riggins had eight points and seven rebounds for the Bulldogs.
 
For Wake Forest, Elisa Penna led the way with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Alex Sharp scored 12 points and grabbed seven rebounds, while Milan Quinn added eight points and nine rebounds.
 
In the first quarter, Wake Forest scored the first nine points to race out to the early lead. The Demon Deacons led by as many as 14 points in the first period, and they held an 18-7 advantage after one quarter.
 
Samford closed to within nine points at 28-19 late in the second quarter. Wake Forest, however, scored six of the final eight points in the quarter and the Deacons took a 34-19 lead into the locker room at halftime.
 
Samford opened the third quarter with a 7-2 run to cut the Wake Forest lead to 10 points at 36-26 with 7:13 to go in the period. The Demon Deacons pushed their lead back out to 14 points at 40-26 with 4:19 left in the quarter. At the end of three quarters, Wake Forest led, 45-33.
 
The Bulldogs fought back to cut the Wake Forest lead to just seven points at 47-40 with 5:54 left in the game. Samford, however, could get no closer as Wake Forest scored the final four points to pull away for the 51-40 win.
 
As a team, Samford made 31.4 percent of its shots overall and just 16.7 percent from three-point range. Wake Forest shot 42.6 percent overall and 37.5 percent from beyond the arc. Wake Forest out-rebounded Samford, 42-25.
 
With the loss, Samford falls to 5-6 on the season. Wake Forest improves to 8-3 with the win.
 
Samford will return to action on Dec. 22, when the Bulldogs play at Georgia. The game is scheduled for a 12 p.m. (CT) start from Athens, Ga.
 
The Bulldogs' next home game is scheduled for Jan. 4, when Samford hosts Southern Conference rival Chattanooga. The contest will tip off at 6 p.m. in the Pete Hanna Center. To purchase tickets for the game click here: CHATTANOOGA GAME TICKETS.